GAME 8: Kennesaw State (3-4) at Georgia (5-1)DATE: Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. ET
LOCATION: Stegeman Coliseum | Athens, Ga.
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Game Notes (KSU) |
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A LOOK AT THE MATCHUP…The Kennesaw State women's basketball program will trek to in-state rival Georgia to take on the Bulldogs on SEC Network+ on Thursday (Dec. 3) evening. The Owls are 0-1 all-time against UGA, with the programs' first meeting taking place in 2013-14. This will mark the final road trip for the Owls before embarking on a three-game trip before the Holiday break.
STATS LEADERS…Points:
Jasmine McAllister, 11.7
Rebounds:
Jasmine McAllister, 10.4
Assists (total):
Karly Frye, 37
Blocks (total):
Jasmine McAllister, 9
Steals (total):
Karly Frye, 10
LAY-UPS…- Head coach
Nitra Perry is in her fourth season, holding a 31-65 overall record with the Owls.
-
Stacey Franklin,
Janie Mitchell and
Nicci Kelly will help Coach Perry on the bench as the assistants in 2015-16.
- Kennesaw State welcomes back seven letter winners returning from a season ago, which helped anchor a 17 win season.
- Kennesaw State has holds a 3-1 mark at home, but are 0-3 away from KSU this season.
- Kennesaw State has had four players (
Aareon Smith,
Iceis Walker,
Tayler Smith &
Allison Johnson) record career highs in points in just five games this season.
- This will mark only the second-ever meeting in programs' history between KSU and Georgia.
- The Bulldogs won their only meetings, taking a 91-32 final in 2013-15.
KSU BY THE NUMBERS…1 – The Owls won their first game of the 2015-16 season with a 49-47 win over Presbyterian.
2 –
Allison Johnson has made two (2) consecutive starts and has averaged 6.5 points per game, including a 12 point game against WCU.
11 –
Clara Young scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half against Florida on Nov. 21.
12 –
Iceis Walker scored 12 points in her debut in the starting lineup against Florida.
14.5 – KSU is averaging 14.5 assists per game at home this season.
18 –
Kelly Dulkoski's 18 points against Presbyterian was one point shy of tying her single-game career high.
25 – KSU scored 25 fourth quarter points against WCU to close out a 65-53 win on Nov. 28.
37.3 – The Owls rank 3rd in the atheir opponents to 37.3 PCT from 3-point land.
37.6 – KSU's FG PCT defense has held its opponents to .376 from the field - ranks 1st in the ASUN.
SCOUTING GEORGIA…- The Owls will embark on an 81 mile journey to face the Bulldogs of Georgia for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
- Georgia finished 19-12 in the 2014-15 campaign, including a 6-10 mark in Southeastern Conference play.
- The Bulldogs finished 10th in the conference and went 4-4 at home in the conference, but went only 2-6 away in SEC play.
- Georgia finished its home schedule with an 12-4 mark, but went 6-7 on the road.
- Head Coach Joni Taylor begins her first season with the Bulldogs. Her record at Georgia is 5-1
- Georgia's women's basketball program began in 1973 .
- Georgia's overall record is 904-385 (.701) and had its best season with a 30-2 record in 1985-86.
- Georgia competes in the Southeastern Conference and plays inside Stegeman Coliseum home of 10,523.
A LOOK AT THE BULLDOGS…- The Bulldogs will return 10 letter winners from their 2014-15 campaign including four starters, while bringing in three newcomers to the team.
- Georgia is 5-1 on the young season. Georgia has knocked off Stetson, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, BYU, Cal, and Cal State Northridge.
- Senior guard Tiaria Griffin leads the team averaging 16.8 points per game during the first six games. She also leads with 14 three pointers through six games.
- Senior forward Merrit Hempe is second on the team with 13.7 points per game and second in rebounds with 44.
- Senior guard/ forward Shacobia Barbee leads the team with 55 assist and is averaging 13.3 points per game.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS' ROSTER
No. Name Ht. Pos. CL. Hometown/Previous School1 Shanea Armbrister 6-2 G JR Nassau, Bahamas/Darton (Ga.) College
2 Terryuana Godwin 5-4 G RS SR Hogansville, Ga./Butler (Kans.) CC
3 Tiaria Griffin 5-7 G SR Monticello, Miss./Hattiesburg HS
4 Caliya Robinson 6-3 F FR Marietta, Ga./McEachern HS
10 Hannahkohl Almire 5-9 G JR Atlanta, Ga./Riverwood Charter School
11 Pachis Roberts 5-11 G/F RS JR Powder Springs, Ga./Syracuse
12 Haley Clark 5-9 G SO Orlando, Fla./Edgewater HS
13 Merritt Hempe 6-3 F SR Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford HS
20 Shacobia Barbee 5-10 G/F SR Murfreesboro, Tenn./Riverdale HS
23 Halle Washington 6-2 F JR Bossier City, La./Parkway HS
24 Marjorie Butler 5-8 G SR Knoxville, Tenn./The Webb School
25 Amber Skidgel 6-0 G FR Bethlehem, Ga./Archer HS
33 Mackenzie Engram 6-2 F SO Powder Springs, Ga./Hillgrove HS
35 Lindsey Burleson 6-2 F SR Albermarle, N.C. (North Stanley HS)
40 Mika Wester 5-11 G FR Newport, Tenn. (Cocke County HS)
44 Brianne Mack 6-3 F SR Charlotte, NC. (Southlake Christina)
52 Emily Hatfield 6-2 F SO Hendersonville, N.C. (Hendersonville HS)
WIN WOULD…- Improve the Owls to 4-4 and get back to the .500 mark for the first time this season since being 1-1 after its first two games.
- Extend KSU's winning streak to three games.
- Give the Owls their first win of the 2015-16 season on the road.
- Hand Kennesaw State its first win over the Bulldogs in program's history.
OWL FACTS FROM THE THANKSGIVING CLASSIC…- Coach
Nitra Perry once again switched her starting lineup and plugged in
Allison Johnson, who averaged 6.5 points per game in two starts.
- Johnson's 12 points against Western Carolina marked a career-high, giving the Owls now four players to record new career-high marks in a single game – others include:
Aareon Smith,
Iceis Walker,
Tayler Smith and now Johnson.
- The Owls won two games in a row for the first time sinceJan.10-14 of 2015, with wins coming against USC Upstate and Northern Kentucky.
- Kennesaw State outscored its opponents by a +9.5 scoring margin over the Thanksgiving Classic weekend.
- The Owls pulled down 40.5 rebounds per game over the two-day stretch, a +7.0 margin against Western Carolina and New Orleans.
FUN FACTS…- The Owls have made more free throws than their opponents in six of their seven games, and sport a 3-3 mark when that happens.
- KSU is shooting 70 percent from the field, making 87-of-124 from the free throw line.
- Kennesaw State is holding its opponents to 37.3 percent from deep, which ranks third in the ASUN.
- The Owls are 3-0 when holding their opponents to under 60 points.
-
Clara Young came off the bench for the first time this season against Florida, totaling 11 of her 13 points in the second half.
- Young hit two 3-pointers in the second half against the Gators, marking the fourth consecutive game she has hit at least one 3-pointer.
-
Iceis Walker earned her first start in her young Owls' career, pouring in a career-high 12 points and grabbed a career-best eight board in the loss to Florida.
- Kennesaw State has outscored its opponents 116-99 in the first quarter and finishing strong by outscoring its opponents 122-110 in the fourth in seven games.
- However, Kennesaw State is being outscored over the second and third quarters.
COACH PERRY FACTS…- Head coach
Nitra Perry is 22 wins away from moving into sole possession of third-most wins in program history - the all-time winningest coach is Colby Tilley with 290.
- Coach Perry has 31 wins in three-plus seasons, including a breakout 17-win campaign just a season ago.
- Coach Perry is the second Owls' head coach in the Division I era.
KSU WOMEN BASKETBALL FACTS…- Kennesaw State will enter its 34th season of competition, as the first year of play was the 1982-83 season.
- The first year of competition in the Division I era was in 2005-06.
- The Owls' all-time NCAA record is 335-280 (.544) in 21 seasons.
- Kennesaw State holds a 204-143 (.588) record at the NAIA level.
- KSU holds a 69-113 (.379) record all-time in the Atlantic Sun.
- The Owls are 68-78 in 10-plus seasons at the KSU Convocation Center since becoming a Division I member with the ASUN.
- The Owls have made three NCAA postseason appearances in 1007, 1999, and 2000.
AAREON SMITH CAREER NIGHT…-
Aareon Smith poured in a career-high 20 points in an Owls uniform in their home-opening loss to crosstown Rival Georgia State.
- Smith finished with a game-high in points (20) and 3-pointers made (4) against the Panthers.
- Smith went 4-for-9 from beyond the arc and 5-for-11 overall from the field.
- The junior forward is from Louisville, Kentucky and is in her third season with Kennesaw State.
DULKOSKI FROM DEEP!…-
Kelly Dulkoski made a career-high six 3-pointers in a single game against Presbyterian on Monday (Nov. 16) night.
- The redshirt sophomore poured in 18 points – one point shy of tying her career high of 19.
- Dulkoski made six of the Owls seven 3-pointers made in the game, making three in each half.
- All of Dulkoski's 3-pointers have come on the Owls' home floor (6-of-20) and has yet to make one on the road.
- In fact, Dulkoski's shots from the field have all come from beyond the arc and not one inside the 3-point line.
BRINGING ENERGY OFF THE BENCH!…- Freshman forward
Tayler Smith dropped a calm 17 points against the Rattlers last Tuesday in 21 minutes off the bench.
- The 17 points marked a career-high for the freshman, which included seven straight points in the first quarter.
- On the year, Smith is averaging 10.5 points per game and 2.0 rebounds. The freshman is 7-of-11 from the field and is shooting 63.6 percent from the field.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE!…- Senior
Jasmine McAllister was selected a Preseason A-Sun All-Conference member.
- Over her last three games, McAllister has averaged 11.7 points per game and 14.3 rebounds, and has totaled a double-double in each of her last three contests.
- In fact, McAllister has pulled down 15 rebounds over her last two contests and added an 11 rebound game against Florida A&M.
- In all, McAllister has four double-doubles in the Owls' first seven games.
